The Kemptville Cenotaph is located at the former site of the North Grenville District High School on the west side of Prescott Street.

Kemptville Cenotaph Background Information

The Kemptville Cenotaph honours local military personnel who paid the supreme sacrifice and those that served during the First and Second World Wars, Korea and, most recently, Afghanistan.

The Cenotaph was designed and manufactured in 1921 using seven blocks of Stanstead grey granite from the Beebe Quebec quarry and includes the statue of a young soldier, bases and shafts.

The following is an excerpt from a speech made by Reeve Dr. W.F. Storey that was published in the local Weekly Advance dated Thursday November 10 1921 entitled “Lest We Forget”:

“He was reminded that just a year ago the president had gently reproved the civic fathers for their procrastination in the erection of a memorial but was pleased to announce that through the co-operation of the Women’s Institute the Town Council the Oxford Township Council and he hoped the Council of the Township of South Gower the ground had been broken a memorial monument ordered and he hoped that before long it would be completed and erected.”

The reference to “President” refers to Corporal H.F. O’Callaghan who was the President of the local Great War Veterans Association (GWVA).

During the month of May the following year, the Kemptville Cenotaph was erected on the north side lot of the old Kemptville Post Office through the combined efforts of the Women's Institute of the day, the Town of Kemptville and the Oxford-on-Rideau and South Gower Councils.

An unveiling ceremony for the Cenotaph was planned by the Great War Veterans Association and held on Saturday June 3 1922. From that day forward the Town of Kemptville and surrounding Townships had an official monument in honour and remembrance of the fallen. The Cenotaph continued to be the site of Remembrance Day services during the years that followed.

In November 1969, the Kemptville Town Council had the Cenotaph relocated to the front lawn of the North Grenville District High School as the Post Office building was scheduled to be demolished the following year.

Several binders containing information on the individuals whose names are inscribed on the Kemptville Cenotaph are available for public viewing by visiting the North Grenville Historical Society Archives at 15 Water Street Kemptville Ontario.

HONOUR ROLL

ERECTED TO
OUR HONOURED DEAD
AND THOSE WHO CARRIED ON
IN THE GREAT WAR
1914 - 1918
FROM KEMPTVILLE
OXFORD & SOUTH GOWER
1939-1945
KOREA
1950 - 1953

Source: 'History of the Kemptville Cenotaph' by Roy Brown.